Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Platform Holly and Piers 421 Town Hall Recording Available

Nearly 100 people attended the State Lands Commission and City of Goleta virtual Town Hall. The Town Hall included an update on the Platform Holly and 421 Piers/Wells abandonment and decommissioning progress. Mayor Perotte introduced the Town Hall and State Lands Commission Project Lead Jeff Planck discussed the significant progress made in 2020 to abandon the wells at piers 421 and on Platform Holly. This was an especially significant undertaking during the pandemic. The meeting wrapped up with the State Lands Commission answering questions from attendees. For those that missed the Town Hall, a recording is available here.

Green Room: Easy to Use Household Hazardous Waste Programs

The Environmental Services Division would like to share some of the programs available to help you dispose of Household Hazardous Waste the right way, so we can protect our environment. The City of Goleta, MarBorg & the County of Santa Barbara have some easily accessible options to help you dispose of this type of material properly.

  • Batteries: MarBorg has a residential curbside battery collection. Place common household batteries (9v or less) in a clear zip top bag ON TOP of your recycling cart or in your apartment’s orange battery bucket.
  • Sharps: If you need a sharps container, you can request one from MarBorg for a FREE safe mail back disposal container. Call MarBorg to learn more: 805-963-1852.
  • Medicine: If you need to dispose of medicines, you can take them to any of your local CVS pharmacies.
  • Other Household Hazardous Waste: Below are some common items and where you can take them. Store all items in secure containers with tight fitting lids, place upright in a box for transport and do not mix any liquids together. Note: you can only bring 15 gallons (liquids) or 125 pounds total of material. There are two convenient options:

MarBorg Recycling Center (20 David Love Place)
Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  

  • Electronic Waste (computers, monitors, radios, etc.; anything with a plug)
  • Fluorescent light Bulbs
  • Antifreeze
  • Batteries
  • Cell Phones
  • Oil (petroleum based: motor oil, hydraulic oil, etc.)
  • Paint (Oil and water based)

UCSB-Community Hazardous Waste Collection Center (University of California, Environmental Health and Safety Building 565, Mesa Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93106)
Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and Sundays 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Limit: 15 gallons or 125 pounds per household/month

  • Paints & Stains
  • Thinners & Solvents
  • Automotive Fluids & Filters
  • Pesticides & Fertilizers
  • Cleaners
  • Batteries
  • Aerosols
  • Glues
  • Corrosives
  • Fluorescent Lighting
  • Smoke alarms/Carbon monoxide detectors

If you have any questions regarding disposal of hazardous waste, please contact us at environmentalservices@cityofgoleta.org

Thanks for protecting our environment by disposing of hazardous waste the right way!

Take Action this Earth Day

Earth Day is coming up soon on April 22nd and there are lots of ways you can participate. This year has come with a lot of unprecedented challenges but has given us an opportunity to spend more time outside and shown us that people can come together to make an immense impact. As Jane Goodall once said, “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the Earth around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Earth Day stands as a reminder to all of us to be good stewards of the planet we all share, that our individual action can lead to an immense impact, and that the time for action is now. If you’d like to get more involved this Earth Day, you can participate in one of the following events or plan your own:

  • The Community Environmental Council’s Earth Day Festival dedicated to inspiration, community building, and climate action will be a free, virtual event this year. Running from April 22 – April 24, 2021, the celebration will feature three days of conversations with climate leaders, musical performances, art contests, and inspirational speakers. April 22nd will be devoted to Youth Leadership, April 23rd to Business Leadership, and April 24th to Community Leadership. Please find more information and a schedule of events here.
  • On Earth Day, April 22, global activists, international leaders, and influencers will come together for the second-annual multi-hour Earth Day Live. The three days of climate action begin on April 20th with the global youth climate summit led by Earth Uprising, in collaboration with My Future My Voice, OneMillionOfUs and hundreds of youth climate activists. The global youth summit will consist of panels, speeches, discussions, and special messages with today’s youth climate activists including Greta Thunberg, Alexandria Villaseñor, and Licypriya Kangujam. The four-hour digital summit will address the progress that has been made on their main issues of concern, including the creation of green jobs, climate literacy, civic skill training, environmental justice, biodiversity protection and sustainable agriculture. Find out how to get involved here.

Send photos to PIO@cityofgoleta.org, to show us how you celebrate Earth Day. #GoodLandGoodPeople

First Electric Vehicle ARC™ Coming to Goleta City Hall

Goleta City Hall will soon be the home of Santa Barbara County’s first EV ARC™ 2020 (EV ARC). The purchase is part of the City’s commitment to being a green and sustainable community. The EV ARC is a transportable, 100% off-grid solar-powered EV charger that can also serve as a mobile emergency preparedness and energy resiliency asset. The unit fits in a standard parking space and, being grid-independent, requires no construction, trenching or electrical circuit work, allowing for fast deployment in minutes. The City of Goleta is the first organization in Santa Barbara County looking to deploy this type of equipment.

Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte remarked, “Our city has made providing safe, reliable, affordable energy alternatives a priority for our community. This is another important step on our path to sustainable energy that also helps combat climate change.” 

Peter Imhof, Director, Department of Planning and Environmental Review, said, “We are excited to see the City take this step to support the transition to electric vehicles in line with its sustainable energy and climate goals. This solar-powered charging unit will offer flexible electric vehicle charging available to both City employees and members of the public.”

“The City of Goleta is fortunate to be able to use grant funds from the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District and the California Office of Emergency Services to purchase the EV ARC, requiring no cash outlay by the City for the equipment,” said Cindy Moore, Sustainability Coordinator. The equipment not only supports the City’s 100% Renewable Energy goal but is also a resiliency asset that will operate during grid interruptions, providing zero emission EV charging and emergency preparedness in one product.”

The EV ARC from BEAM Global, a San Diego-based company, is expected to be delivered to City Hall by early summer. More information on how the public can access the new EV charging station will be forthcoming.

The EV ARC is one of many ways the City is striving to meet its goal of 100% Renewable Energy by 2030. The City will be enrolling in Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) in October 2021 in an effort to support clean energy at competitive rates and participate in innovative energy programs that facilitate the electrification of the transportation and built environments. This year the City also anticipates moving forward with a solar photovoltaic project and EV charging stations at City Hall. Learn more about what the City of Goleta is doing here.

Parks and Recreation Corner

The City of Goleta’s Parks and Recreation Division has many updates to share with the community.

  • Name the Monarch Contest: Thank you everyone who submitted a name for our new, custom-made, climbable Monarch Butterfly that will be installed this summer at Berkeley Park behind Kellogg School! We received some great names and can’t wait to find out which one City Council chooses. The Parks & Recreation Commission will narrow down the entries at their April 7 meeting, selecting two – five finalists to be shared with the City’s Naming Standing Committee. The Committee will then make a final recommendation to the City Council.
  • New Playground Equipment: Four neighborhood parks in Goleta will be getting new play or fitness equipment this summer. The bid process for the construction and installation of the equipment just closed; City staff will review the bids and take a recommendation to City Council to award the contract so that construction may begin. This is an exciting time as many residents are looking forward to these new improvements. More information is available here.
  • Evergreen Park/Pickleball: The Parks and Recreation Commission will review a recommendation to consolidate the existing projects at Evergreen Park as one larger project at their upcoming April 7 meeting. This includes the field renovation, restroom installation, and more. The Commission will also hear a recommendation to consider the idea of expanding pickleball playing opportunities in Goleta.
  • Stow Grove Park Survey: At the end of 2020, more than 750+ people took our Stow Grove Park Multi-Purpose Field Renovation survey. At the upcoming April 6, 2021, City Council meeting, Council will receive a presentation on the survey results and consider a recommendation to expand the scope of work for the design of the Stow Grove Multi-Purpose Field to include conceptual modifications for the entire park.

Tune in to the April 7 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to learn more. View the agenda here: https://tinyurl.com/ys5edr2t. Keep up to date on our busy Parks and Recreation Division by signing up for updates here.

Pictured: Climbable Monarch Butterfly to be installed at Berkeley Park

Provide Your Input on Goleta’s Housing and Public Service Needs

The City of Goleta has been awarded $230,558 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the upcoming 2021-2022 Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) program year. The programs and activities being carried out with the annual funding are included in the City’s 2021-2022 CDBG Action Plan. The City is conducting a 30-day public review period from April 2 – May 3, 2021, where the community can review the draft Action Plan available here on the City website and provide input. The final Action Plan will be considered by the City Council at its May 4, 2021, meeting, and will be submitted to HUD by the annual May 15 deadline.

Claudia Dato, Neighborhood Services & Public Safety Senior Project Manager said, “The City is very pleased to be an ongoing recipient of CDBG funding which allows us to provide important services to our low-income population. Among the awards for the coming year is a grant to provide essential medical and dental services to low-income residents and the homeless at the Goleta Neighborhood Clinic on Calle Real and the Goleta Dental Clinic on Kinman Avenue, both operated by Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics.”

The City is grateful to have been a HUD award recipient since 2004. These grant funds are intended to help communities accomplish HUD’s overall goals by carrying out a wide range of community development activities directed toward revitalizing neighborhoods, engaging in economic development, and providing important services of benefit to low-income residents, seniors, disabled individuals, and the homeless, in addition to other targeted populations. The CDBG program is principally targeted toward assisting low- and moderate-income persons.

Each year the City prepares an Action Plan that includes one-year goals and objectives, and funding allocations for activities to be carried out in the coming program year. The City of Goleta predominantly relies on nonprofit organizations to help carry out the goals of its CDBG Program. To allow for this, the City awards grant funds on a competitive basis to organizations that are considered grant subrecipients under the City’s CDBG Program.

Community participation is at the forefront of the City’s housing and neighborhood services strategies, planning, and implementation. The CDBG program requires that community members, particularly persons of low- and moderate-income, minorities, and persons with disabilities, be given an opportunity to participate in an advisory role in the planning and implementation of the CDBG program.

Please visit www.cityofgoleta.org/i-want-to/apply-for/grants to review the draft Action Plan during the 30-day public review period (April 2 – May 3, 2021). The public is encouraged to share any comments and input with Senior Project Manager Claudia Dato at cdato@cityofgoleta.org or 805-961-7558.

 Pictures courtesy of Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics

Final Homelessness Strategic Plan to be Presented to Council

Plan Now Available for Public Review on City Website

The City of Goleta is one step closer to adopting its first-ever Homelessness Strategic Plan (Plan). The Final Plan was recently reviewed by the Homelessness Issues Standing Committee and will be considered for adoption by the Goleta City Council at the April 20, 2021, meeting. The Plan is now available for review here. Once adopted, the document will help guide and coordinate efforts to prevent and address homelessness within the City of Goleta, and particularly, funding decisions related to homelessness initiatives and grants for non-profit service providers that focus on the homeless.

“We are very pleased to be able to share the City’s Final Homelessness Strategic Plan with the public,” said City of Goleta Neighborhood Services Interim Director Jaime Valdez. He added, “This is the culmination of a two-year effort during which City staff has collaborated with multiple local stakeholders and sought out public input through workshops and a community survey. This Plan will provide the City Council with important guidance going forward as they make difficult funding decisions about homelessness initiatives.”

Community input has been an essential part of the development of the Plan. The City has held numerous public meetings and released a survey to hear directly from those with input on homelessness in our region, as well as people experiencing homelessness. Staff also held stakeholder meetings, best practices discussions with communities nationwide, and a Community Open House and information session.

City Council and staff believe having a strategic plan will provide important direction and clarity around needs, service gaps, and priorities in order to make effective and strategic funding decisions that serve both the existing homeless population, as well as those at risk of becoming homeless. We are grateful for the public’s input and interest in this important effort.

Learn more and review the Final Plan at https://tinyurl.com/GoletaHomelessnessPlan.

Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

New Project Noticing Plan Launches – Look for Postcard!

Be on the lookout for a letter and pre-paid postcard from the City of Goleta coming to your mailbox later this month! Residents and businesses in Goleta will be receiving a letter in the mail about the City’s new Project Noticing Plan that includes a pre-paid postcard to return for those who want to receive notices directly about large projects via email/text or in the mail.

The City of Goleta wants to make sure you are aware of projects occurring within the City and that you have an opportunity to be a part of the consideration process. At the same time, we are mindful that many of our community members would prefer to receive notices via on-line methods rather than by mail.

Previously, for larger projects where the number of property owners/tenants that needed to be noticed about proposed zoning permits and hearings was greater than 1,000, the City placed a notice in the newspaper instead of mailing notices.  In an effort to improve noticing in a cost-effective, environmentally friendly way and to ensure that we are reaching our community in the many different ways they receive information, the City is launching its new Project Noticing Plan.

For larger projects that impact more than 1,000 property owners/tenants and other projects likely to lead to significant community interest, the City will send out the information via text and e-mail to our GovDelivery subscribers and will post the information on our website, social media (Facebook and Twitter) and on Nextdoor. For those who prefer, we will also mail notices. This will be in addition to the noticing in the newspaper.

If you would like to receive notices directly about large projects, please fill out and return the enclosed card as soon as you receive it.

  • To receive Project Notices for large projects directly via email and/or text in English or Spanish; or
  • To receive Project Notices for large projects via U.S. mail (Note: everyone will still receive mailed notices for smaller projects in their neighborhoods, as required by State law).

The City will be reaching out every two years to check your preference for Project Notices. For any questions, or to be added to the mailing list at any time, please contact PIO@cityofgoleta.org. We encourage you to stay connected with us on our outreach platforms to be informed about all that is happening in our City. 

Ways to Stay Connected

New and Improved Pedestrian Crosswalks Ready for Use in Goleta

Drivers and pedestrians will notice improvements at two intersections in Goleta this month. The City recently completed construction of the pedestrian crosswalk improvements on Hollister Avenue and Calle Real including installing a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB’s) system at Hollister Avenue and Chapel Street and a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) system at Calle Real and Kingston Avenue. The RRFB and PHB systems will provide an additional visual cue to alert motorists when a pedestrian intends to cross the street.

Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
The project’s first location included pedestrian activated RRFB’s at the Hollister Avenue and Chapel Street intersection. The three-way intersection had an existing striped crosswalk without any stop controls. The crosswalk serves Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital on the south side connecting them with businesses and residences on the north side of Hollister Avenue. The City extended the curb slightly to align the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) curb ramp with the new crosswalk striping. The RRFB’s are a federally approved Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) signal for pedestrian-actuated crosswalk enhancements. The RRFBs use rectangular-shaped high-intensity light-emitting-diode (LED)-based flash indicators in a randomized pattern to alert motorists of a pedestrian’s intent to use the crosswalk. The RRFBs patterns have shown increased driver yielding behavior compared to no stop controls or the standard circular yellow flashing warning beacons, thereby increasing pedestrian safety. The intersection improvements also included new striping, signage, crosswalk lighting, and ADA ramps.

Pictured: Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) at Hollister Avenue and Chapel Street

Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon
The City constructed a PHB [formerly known as a High Intensity Activated crossWalK (HAWK)] system on mast arms over the Calle Real travel lanes at Kingston Avenue. The PHB system replaced the previous old style yellow flashing beacons at this three-way intersection. The PHB system is a hybrid of a flashing beacon and a traffic signal and is another federally approved MUTCD signal for pedestrian-actuated crosswalk enhancements. The PHB includes a signal face suspended above the roadway that has two red lenses above a single yellow lens. The system remains dark until pedestrian-activated. When activated, the signal flashes yellow, and then a steady yellow, followed by a steady red, and finally alternate flashing red lights. The primary benefit is the requirement for all vehicles to stop for the red light. Vehicles may proceed when the red light is flashing and it is safe to do so. The City installed new signs indicating to motorists how the PHB system lights works. The figure below shows the newly installed signs.

Per the California Department of Motor Vehicles and the California Vehicle Code, a flashing red traffic signal light means “STOP.” After stopping, you may proceed when it is safe to do so, observing the right-of-way rules. Here are some step-by-step instructions showing how to drive through a PHB signal.

The intersection improvements also included new striping, signage, crosswalk lighting, and ADA ramps.

Pictured: Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) system at Calle Real and Kingston Avenue

The City thanks the contractor, Lee Wilson Electric Co., and the construction management team, MNS Engineers, who oversaw and inspected the construction activities. The City and City’s construction management team worked diligently engaging the utilities – Southern California Edison (SCE), Frontier Communications, Cox Communications, and Crown Castle Communications – to relocate their facilities in a timely manner. The project was completed on time and under budget. 

“We are excited the crosswalk improvements are constructed at these two intersections. We submitted and received the HSIP grant based on the safety improvements recommended at these two locations. The pedestrian improvements will benefit all users,” City of Goleta Senior Project Engineer James Winslow said. “The Public Works Department appreciates the community’s initial input during the design phase and their continued patience during construction activities as we implement these crosswalk enhancements.”

The Public Works Department secured a federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant for $237,780 with additional funding from the local Measure A sales tax for approximately $300,000 and General Fund of approximately $100,000.

Additional project information can be found on our City website at https://tinyurl.com/y427nybt.

 

 

City of Goleta Launches Online Public Portal for Permits and Licenses

Have you checked out the City’s new online portal system? For the first time ever, you can now apply for and track permits and licenses online using the City of Goleta’s new Magnet Permit Tracking System Public Portal. The City launched the new user-friendly, intuitive Public Portal in mid-March, and whether you are a resident, business owner, permit applicant or just curious, we encourage you to check it out live on the City website or access it directly at https://goleta.onlinegovt.com/.  

With the City’s new online Public Portal system, you can:

  • Apply for a Planning Permit
  • Apply for a Building & Safety Permit
  • Apply for a Public Work Permit
  • Apply for a Business License
  • Renew a Business License
  • Check Case Status
  • Obtain Permit Records for a Parcel
  • Request an Inspection
  • Look at Mapping Information
  • Report an Issue

The streamlined system is designed to be a one-stop location to make existing permit records available to the public, allow permit applications to be made online, and make it easy for the community to track the status of an application or a development project.

Staff presented the new system to City Council at the March 16, 2021 meeting. View the staff report and presentation here: https://tinyurl.com/3dsvhvf3.

Click here to try the new Public Portal system.